Gandhinagar: In a major citizen-centric reform, the Gujarat government on Monday introduced a standardized “Universal Affidavit” format that will be accepted across the state in all cases where an affidavit is required but no specific format has been prescribed by law.

The move is expected to eliminate the need for citizens to submit multiple affidavits in different formats for various government services and welfare schemes, thereby simplifying administrative procedures and reducing inconvenience.

According to the state government, applicants previously had to furnish different types of affidavits to avail themselves of services and schemes offered by various departments. The lack of uniformity often led to unnecessary complexity, delayed administrative processes, and caused inconvenience to citizens.

With the introduction of the Universal Affidavit, all government offices, service centres, and authorities operating at the district, taluka, rural, and urban levels will be required to accept the standardized format. The affidavit will also be implemented on the Digital Gujarat portal and at all public service centres, making the application process more convenient for online users.

The Law Department clarified that the Universal Affidavit will apply only in cases where an affidavit is legally required but no prescribed format exists. In services where an affidavit is not mandated by law, the existing system of self-declaration, as provided under a General Administration Department resolution, will continue.

To ensure ease of use and accessibility, the official Universal Affidavit format has been prepared in both Gujarati and English.

Officials said the initiative is aimed at streamlining citizen services, reducing paperwork, and promoting greater uniformity in government procedures across the state. DeshGujarat